Refuse-disposal device.



C. H. STEPHENSON. REFUSE 'DISPOSAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1909.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

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REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE.

APPLlc-ATION FILED Nov.23,1909.

1,01 1,874. Patented De0.12,`1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mz Lm. y n @Qf/W' www? GJH.STEBHBNSON. REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1'909. 1,01 1,874, Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHBE' 3.

nivrrEn s'rarEs PATENT oEEIoE. 4

CHARLES H. STEIHENSON, '0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

nnrusiimrsrosnn DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Application filed November 23, 1909. Serial No. 529,628.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. STEPHEN- soN, ot' Lynn, in the county oiEssex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Refuse-Disposal Devices, of which .the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to rreceivers for dierent materials such as ashesor garbage or Aany Waste material, and has particular reference todevices of this natureL which are adapted to be set under ground, accessbeing had for the deposit ot the material by means of a cover sectionwhich is movable, and access being had for the removal of an inclosedcan or container by means of a ringshaped cover section. A

The chief object of my invention is to provide a unit system ot refusedisposal devices comprising a receiver, a can or container adapted to beremovably'placed therein, and a three-piece top ,some ofthe members ofwhich are interchangeable Wit-h others.

Other objects of my inventionv are to'im` prove the structure of devicesof-v this nature to adapt them for different uses'ivhethe'r setunderground or entirely portable.

To these ends mylinvention consists primarily in refuse disposal devicescomprising. a series ot units capable of diiierent relative arrangementsand of interchangeability and substitutionv one for another, to enable acomplete apparatus to be assembled to meet the requirements of one of aplurality of conditions Without necessitating a completeA set for eachone of those conditions.

My invention further consists in improvements in the construction ofditterent members ot the set to adapt them to meet the differentconditions which are liable to be met with. l

Of the accompanying dravvings,-Figure 1, is an elevation, partly brokenout illustrating a. complete set of devices in one arrangement ofassembling. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view including the upperlportions of some of the members shown in Fig.

-1 but with other members replaced by units of a dierent form. Figs. 3,4, 5, (i and'.7 are views similar to Fig. 2 but representing otherchanges in the assemblage of units. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. l,the middle portion being broken out, and illustrating more completelythe assemblage indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a plan view of thestructure shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on alarger scale ofthe parts shown .nFig 8 but with the receiver inclosed incement. Figs. 11, 12and 13, are perspective views of the ythree topunits shown 1n Figs. 3 and 410. Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view toillustrate v*the operation of opening the central section of the cover.Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modification in thestructure of the bottom of the receiver. Fig. 16 is a plan view of agrid which may be used in connection with an'open bottom receiver toprevent rats from gaining access to the receiver. Fig. 1f? is aviewsimilar to Fig. 8 but illustrating fur-X ther modilicationsincluding acement receiver. Fig. 18 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 19 is a`detail sectional .view of another modification hereinafterreferred to. Fig. 20 is a plan View of the open metal bottom or spiderused in connection With the form of receivershown in Fig. 17. Figs. 21,22 and 23 are detail sectional viewsillustrating other modificationshereinafter described.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in allof the views. y

A complete assemblage comprises ve' units which are indicated by thereference characters a, b, c, tl, and e Withv or Without accompanyingnumerals. Each assemblage includes a receiver a and a removable can orpail b, the receiver a being adapted to be set in the ground if desiredwith its top Hush with the surface, said receiver having a con tinuousbottom as indicated in Fig. 1,'orl open bottom as hereinafter described.l The can or pail rests on such .bottom and isl adapted to be removedfrom the receiver when the contents thereof` are to be disposed of. Thetop comprises anouter ring member c, a ring-shaped member al, which is;movable to enable the inner can-or pail, Zi to be removed,`and a centralsection c which is movable for the deposit of refuse'k in the` canorpail b. These units c, d and e, as Will now be described, may beformed differently to meet 'diiierent conditi0ns,'and the saine may` betrue also ofthe receiver a, but Athej proportions ofthe parts', are suchthat different structures of top can. be used in'connec' tion with areceiver either of the form' shown in Fig. 1 ,or the formvshown in'Figsj 1o. 15, 17, 19, arend 2s.

Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive are drawn to a. uni;

form scale to make it more apparent how changes can be made in theassemblage of the cover members. In the other. figures of the drawings,the scale differs considerably, for convenience of illustration butit isto be understood that the scale will be uniform Soas to enabledifferently formed sections or members of the top to be interchanged onefor another, .and to enable any given assemblage of top units to beemployedin connection with the different structures 'of re- Aceiverillustrated.

I `will now proceed to describe the details of vstructure of the severalparts shown.

The receiver a maybe provided with spiral strengthening ribs 25v whichare more especially desirable when the receiver is above'ground. Saidribs, however, will not interfere with the placing of the receiverunderground, or placing it in cement as indicated in Fig. 10.

The bottom of the receiver may be entirely closed as shown in Figs. 1and 8. But sometimes conditions are such that it is desirable that thebottom shall be open. For instance, if the receiver is to be placed insuch a situation as might result sometimes in a flood of water fillingthe receiver, then it is desirable that the bottom shall be left open sothat the water may drain out. If the bottom is left open, however, it isdesirablev that provisions shall be made to make the device rat-proof.When the bottom of the receiver is open, as shown in Fig. 15, a frame26, made of wire or other suitable material is employed to support agrid 27, said grid having openings as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, toenable Water to iiow out. Such grid preferably consists of two 40members hinged together for convenience in placing it in the receiver.When the arts are assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 15, the can brests upon the grid 27. l But if the open bottomreceiver is inclosed fincement as shown in Fig. 10, there is then no need for the grid 27, andin this case the can b rests upon the frame 26 to prevent the bottom ofthe can from chipping the cement. Such chipping would result in the canb not being supported properly; that "is, it would be liable to tilt asit would if no outer jacket or cement were employed. Consequently whenthe receiver a is formed with an open bottom as in Figs. and-15, theframe 26 is desirable, to support the can upright, by preventing it fromresting directly on cement or earth.

As shown in Fig. 10, the receiver .a may be set inside of a slightlylarger jacket 28, and the space between filled with cement 29, saidcement protecting the receiver' a from oxidization. The jacket 28 wouldbe einployed merely to form the outer wall of the space in which thecement is to be placed. 65 After this struct-ure is placed in the groundthe receiver.

and the cement is hardened, it makes no difference if the jacket 28completely rusts away, the cement jacket then completely protecting thestructure.

In Fig. 17, I have indicated the receiver as consisting of a length ofterra cotta pipe a. In the lower end ot this pipe section a is a spider30 which is secured in place by means of tie-rods 31 bearing against thebottom of the spider and exteiidingup outside. of the receiver a andthrough the flange of the ring top c2 and secured by nuts. This spider30is shown as providedvl with lugs 32 having inwardly inclined up peredges to guide the can Zi to a central position when it is inserted andprevent it from bearingagainst the wall of the receiver.

As shown in Fig. 19, the receiver may have inner and outer walls a2 withan inter-l 85 posed filling of cement 33, which cement may have a metalreinforce 31. The ring top section c2 in this structure, may be se,-ciired to the receiver unit by means of bolts 35 having their headsembeddedin the ce- 96 ment and extending up through the fiange of thering top and secured by nuts.

As shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the receiver may consist of a straightsection. of pipe as of earthenware or other suitable material, a bottomring 36 fitting the lower end of the pipe and connected with the ringtop c3 by tierods 37 connecting flanges of the two rings. The verticalwall or flange of the bottom ring 36 may extend inside of the re- 100ceiver portion .as as shown in Fig. 21, or outside of it as shown inFig. 22.

.As shown in Fig. 23, the receiver a4 may be constructed substantiallyas in Fig. 10, but with an outlet pipe 38 leading from the 105 bottomand having a suitable check-valved escape to a sewer or elsewhere, atrap being formed as at 39, which trap may have a vent 40. In said Fig.23 thebottom of the receiver L4 is shown as having grooves .with 110inclined bottoms converging at the outlet 38. This structure of receiveris especially designed for placing underground in locations where thereis sufficient elevation to permit of the automatic drainage of waterthat might find its way into the receiver from any cause such as veryheavy rains. rlhis structure shown in Fig. 23 is also especially for usein locations where the ground in which the device is to be set may onlybe a few inches above the highest tides. In such case, the check-valve39a would prevent a back flow due to a high tide, from finding its wayinto the receiver, but the low tide would permit any water that getsinto the receiver l25 from any cause, to flow out.

-is has been stated the top comprises three secticus. The outer onewhich I refer to as the ring top, is removably supported by Then theentire top is to be tion of street orpavement sweepings, these .threesections of the top will preferably comprise members such as shown inFig. l, the ring top c-liaving a flange fitting inside of the top of the'receiver and having an opening provided with a circular series of lugs41 onwhich the outwardly projected iiange of the ring-shaped cover drests. Said ring-shaped cover d is formed with an opening `formed. by aflange which in use constitutes a chute 42.A The innerwall of this chuteis provided with lugs 48 which support the margin of the central-coversection e. Theftops of the three members c, (Z and c are hush, and themembers (l and e have holes 44 in which a suitable lifting tool 'can beinserted. The central section e is to be lifted out when are to besweptinto the device, such dust being guided into the chute 42. If desired,a` larger opening may be afforded by removing the section d by means ofa toolinserted'in its hole 44, or if the pail or can b is of a less sizethan shown port with an upwardly extending cushion Fig. 1, such pail orcan may be removed and the contents dumped intothe streetcleaning wagon.whenever the ring-shaped cover al is removed.

As shown in Figs.' 2, 5 and 6 the outer or vring top mayV have aninwardly projectf ing flange to rest. on the top of the receiver a, theouter. edge' of this supporting flange being surrounded by a bandforming a flange projecting both above and below the planeofthehorizontal flange. This structure provides a ringtop whichissupported on the receiver and prevented from laterally mov ingthereon, said ring top presenting a sup- Which -will snugly receive anytemporary or other cover that might be placed therein if a very cheapsetof units were desired. This form of ringtop is indicated at c. As shownin Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 12 the ring top c2 may have lugs 45 to support apintle 46 projecting through the lug 47 of the ring shaped cover d4,this structure enabling the ring and central'members of the cover to beturned up on the hinge afforded by said lugs and mntle.y AThering-shaped cover may be of the form shown at d in Figs. 2 and 5 andhingedly supported, or as at d2 in Fig.v 7 in which.

ease itis entirely removable.. And it may have tapered lugs 48 to holdthe units a and b properly spaced. As shown at Z3 1n Fig.' 6thering-shaped cover maybe formed or Sheet metal and may have asuperimposed piece comprising a sheet metal seat member 49 formed withan integral chute member A.VI-'n most ofthe other figures of thedrawing, the ring-shaped cover is indicated in each case being hingedand having .54,so that the section e4 dust or sweepings can by means ofthel a chute' around .a central opening and having a handle 51 byiwhichit may be lifted. For most purposes, 'where garbage is the refuse to bedisposed of, this 'form is preferred. In connection with this type ofring-shaped cover section, I preferably employ a central cover sectionindicated at et in Figs. 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19. Saidcentral cover section e4 is hinged to the section d" as at '52, and hasa handle 53 by which it maybe swung upward, and having also a footpiececan be lifted by pressing the foot on the piece 54. 4The foot piece 54is rigid with the cover section, preferably by being made integraltherewith, as clearly indicated in the figures of the drawing referredto. The normalposition for said foot piece, when the cover is closed, issuch that it projects upwardly 'and outwardly in a generally inclined'direction beyond the pivotal connection52 of the cover. Y

And the upper face of the foot piece is shown as convex and roughened.This structure enables the cover to be raised suiiiciently to enable abucket to be emptied into a receiver, by simply placingl the toe portionof one foot on the convex upper tace of the foot piece, and pressingdownwardly. The heel may rest on the ground'or another portion of thestructure of the device. This leaves both hands tree so that one handcan support the bucket while the other hand tilts it. And it is nevernecessary to stoop low enough to grasp any part of the coverl whiledeposits are being made. Owing to the convex face of the pressurereceiving portion of the footpiece, the first pressure downward has thegreatest lifting torce because the pressure is exertedonA the outer endofthe foot piece. As the cover rises the point of contact of t-he shoesole gradually shiftsalong nearer to the pivotal point".l Consequentlythe greatest leverage is obtained when overcom- 'ing inertia of thecover, the leverage growing less as'the cover swings upwardly, finallyresulting 1n requiring the least amount of pressure to keep the coverraisedV during the dumping of the contents yof a bucket into thereceiver. This feature of the invent-ion is especially desirable in verycold weather when a person is liable to issue from a kitchen with wetormoist hands so that A' there may be liability ot injury. to thefingers ithad to be grasped by hand. And the device is simple and has nojoints. vr"As shown in Figs. 2, 5,1and 7', the rece1vingicover maybe alid e hinged at 55 to a seat56 which seat may in turn be supported Vonthe member 0l as shown in Figp,

or may be lsupported considerably above the member d as shown in Fig.2'. In'the lby the freezing to the cover or a handle ii" 'shown in Fig.5, the device may be useful without being embedded inthe earth. When thereceiver a is to be embedded in the earth, then the more expensivestructure indicated in Fig. 2 will probably be preferred. But thisstructure shown in Fig. 2 enables the device to be used for a differentpurpose.

That is, when the members 58, 56 and e are no'longer to be used during,perhaps., the erection of a new building, said members can be removedand top sections more suitable for a garbage receiver can be substitutedtherefor without having to remove the receiver a from its depressedposition in the ground. In Fig. 7, the dotted lines indicate how theform of ring cover clz may be substituted for the form el in Fig. 1, andstill enable an elevated seat 56 to be employed. In said Fig. 7, themember cl2 is formed with a downwardly extending flange which, when theseat 56 and lid e are removed, may receive a chute such as shown at 58in Fig. 2, the seat 56 and lid e being then mounted upon the flange atthe upper end of the chutev 58, this being a knock-down structure whichmight sometimes be preferred for temporary uses as it would be cheaperthan the more permanent structure shown in Fig. 2.

In most of the forms shown, the opening in the ring-shaped section ofthe cover is provided with inwardly projecting lugs 59 supportingrubber. cushions 60, so that whether the central cover section is aheavy one or not or a hinged one or one which is entirely removable, itwill not be noisy if allowed to drop to closed position. Similar lugsand cushions are preferably employed in some of the forms of ring tops,as shown, for instance, at 61 in Fig. 19.

It is to be observed that in those forli-s of receiver shown in Figs.10, 19 and 23, there is a lining of metal intervening between the innerwalls of the cement and the receiver, thus reducing tendency of thecement to become contaminated. Y

.It will now be understood that with the several units havingcorrespondingdiameters so that one canbe substituted for another in evena greater variety than illustrated, it is possible for the manufactureror dealer to supply the wants of .a great many diii'erent customers whohave different Conditions to meet as to locations and uses, and whoseconditions, iinancial or otherwise, may require the dealer' to assemblethevunits to make a more or less expensive whole. The manufacturer ordealer can do this without having to keep in stock a complete equipmentfor each of the conditions that may have to be met.

Of course it is essential, for the present purposes, that the coverhaving the rigid foot-piece shall be held in a definite open positionduring continuous downward pressure of the foot, so thatv said coverwill neither be drawn so high as to strike the ankle of the user, norfail to close autorfatically when the pressure is released. VIn thedevice as illustrated, this result is obtained by the shape of thefoot', piece, the under side of which contacts with the upper surface ofthe member to which the cover is hinged to deinitely insure that'thelimit of the open movement of the cover shall be substantially such asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 14. I do not limit myself, ofcourse, to such angle of opening, it being essential, however that theopening movement of thel cover shall be less than 90.

The inter-changeable unit feature provides that two or more units 'ofdifferent character may be substituted, one for another; that is, oneunit may be taken away, and its place occupied by another unit whichfits the same place, but such substitution adapting the whole assemblageto be applied to a different use' from that for which the first orremoved unit adapted it. Such change imparts a new function to theassemblage, or, in other words, by `changing one part or unit, a verydiderent complete article n` ay be assembled, without necessity of thedealer carrying any such large stock of units as would be required toprovide for so many different assemblages, if the units were notinter-changeable as described. It is to' understood that I do not limitmyself to the exact design, details of struc ture, and proportions ofparts shown in Figs. 1 to 7, for instance, but I may vary .the sameconsiderably without departing from the spirit of my invention which inits broad aspect consists in providing a series of units capable ofdifferent relative arrangements and of interchangeability andsubstitution one for another, to lenable a complete apparatus to beassembled to meet the requirements of any one of a large number ofdifferent conditions, without necessitating a complete set suitable foreach one of those z conditions.

I claim:

1. A unit system of refuse disposal de-L vices, comprising a set ofinterchangeably fitting members, said set including a receiver for aremovable receptacle, a plurality of ring-shaped cover sectionsdiffering-from each other but each adapted to removably fit the top ofthe receiver, and central cover sections to close the openings in theseveral ring-shaped cover sections.

2. A unit system of refuse disposal devices, comprising a set ofinter-changeably fitting members, said set inluding a receiver for aremovable receptacle, and a series of three-piece covers for saidreceiver, the

pieces of one series differing from thoseof another series, butinter-changeable to in that may cover may'be raised by downward pressurebeing provided vided with n'zeans l `'movement of the cover at Aa poi-nt.to hold on Asaid foot-piece, said foot-piecebeing pro-v to interruptthe opening the said coverinclined forwardly over the receiver, wherebyrelease A'ofhsaid,v pressure will permit the'cover to close by gravity.

4. The combination with a receiver for refuse material, of. a pivotallymounted cover therefor, foot-piece permanently projecting in. n upwardlyand outwardl yond the pivotal connection, said-foot piece with means tointerrupt the opening movement of the cover, whereby the latter may beheld rmlyiin a definite open position bycontinuedv pressure onthe'footpiece.

5. The combination` with ak receiver for l.

' refuse material, of a said cover having ai rigidsaid cover havinga`rigid ,.other,

Y inclined direction be`- pivotally. mounted coveiftherefor, said'coverhaving a rigid .footiia'ece permanently projecting in Aanfupwardly andoutwardly inclined direction beyondrthe pivotal connection, theouter'end ,of the foot-'piece having -a convex upper face to receivethe'pressure of the' foot; the un 'der .facevof said foot piece beingprovided with a longitudinally arranged stop, whereby the' cover may beheld firmly in ya definiteopen positionby continued pressure on thefoot-piece. e 6; The combination with areceiver-adaptl ed to hold aremovable receptacle, fof a' hinged ring-'shaped cover and a hingedcen-v,

tral cover section, the hinges of the two'being substantiallydiametrically opposite each they central. cover Tsection having a rigidfoot piece permanently projecting in an upwardly and outw "dlyinclined'direction beyond the pivotalconnection.

.Intestimony whereof I have aHiXed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. STEPHENSON Witnesses! A. W. HARRISON, P. W. Pnz'znr'rr.

